Background: The role of inflammation in the development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats is not well characterized. Hepcidin is a recently discovered acute-phase protein (APP) that plays an important role in iron metabolism and contributes to the development of anemia in humans with CKD.
Objectives: To compare serum APP concentrations, iron status, and erythropoietin (EPO) concentrations in healthy cats and cats with naturally occurring CKD.
Animals: A total of 18 healthy control cats and 38 cats with CKD.
Methods: Prospective study. After complete physical examination and routine blood analysis, the following tests were performed: serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (HAP), EPO, serum iron and ferritin concentration as well as total iron-binding capacity (TIBC). Serum hepcidin-25 concentration was measured by ELISA kit designed for use in humans.
Results: Mean SAA and hepcidin concentrations were significantly higher and mean total iron and TIBC were significantly lower in the CKD group (P < .05). There was a significant positive correlation between serum creatinine concentration (CRT) and 2 of the APPs (SAA and hepcidin; P < .05). Increases in SAA and hepcidin were associated with decreases in TIBC and hematocrit in the CKD group. Fourteen (37%) of the cats with CKD were anemic, and these cats had significantly lower TIBC (P < .05), suggesting a functional iron deficiency. There was no association between survival time and APP, iron status, or EPO concentrations.
Conclusions: Our data suggest that CKD in cats is associated with systemic inflammation and altered iron metabolism. With further validation in cats, hepcidin assays may help better characterize these relationships.
Keywords: anemia; erythropoietin; ferritin; hepcidin; serum amyloid A.
Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.